Thousands of public servants to stage industrial action

There will be widespread disruption across the public sector today as over 300,000 trade union members begin industrial action in protest at government pay cuts.

Teachers, nurses and other members of IMPACT and the Craft Group of unions are staging a work-to-rule.

The Health Service Executive has asked the Labour Relations Commission to intervene in the dispute, after union leaders refused to exempt the health sector from their campaign.

Sheila Noonan, incoming General Secretary of the INTO, is making no apology for launching industrial action.

"Quite clearly we have Government as our employer and simply need to make a protest and make no defence… for us defending ordinary employees in terms of what's happening," Ms Noonan said.

"And we're not out of the woods yet in relation to signals that Government have given in relation to pensions next year.

"So the battles have well to be fought."